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Deputy Wolf leaves Czech opposition Social Democratic Party ... Jan Morava and Vlastimil Tlusty, the Social Democrats called on voters to show in the October 17-18 election whether they want the coalition government of Mirek Topolanek (ODS) to continue."We do not seek any power struggle on the Chamber of Deputies grounds, we want the debate to be transferred among citizens," said Paroubek, explaining why the no confidence vote should take place only after the elections.The Social Democrats in the past initiated three unsuccessful attempts to vote no confidence in the cabinet of the ODS, the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) and the Greens (SZ) that assumed office in January 2007.Some analysts say the CSSD might succeed this time, with the aid of some "rebellious" ODS and SZ deputies.According to a TV Nova report, Morava was gathering discrediting material against some of his colleagues to be possibly used for blackmailing them.Morava, among others, distributed Tlusty's photographs that Tlusty himself expediently fabricated as a "bait." Morava also photographed himself with a daughter of Greens rebellious MP Olga Zubova and he intended to use the photos to intimidate Zubova, Nova reported.Topolanek on Friday said Tlusty was the initiator of the scandal, while Morava was rather a victim.The ODS leadership distanced itself from he behaviour of both deputies and called on them to give up their mandates.Morava is to comment on the case at a press conference today where he will probably resign from the lower house.Tlusty, on his part categorically refused to resign, saying he played only the role of "decoy" in the case.Paroubek said today the Nova report revealed that the ODS policy degenerated into disgusting dirty tricks and deals.Paroubek also said Morava's behaviour was no isolated phenomenon.In this respect, he recalled the report by former Czech police organised crime squad (UOOZ) chief Jan Kubice on links between the then CSSD-run administration and organised crime, which was released ahead of the general election in June 2006 and which harmed the CSSD in the polls, according to the Social Democrats.Paroubek also pointed to the ODS attempts to gain support of former CSSD deputies-defectors after the inconclusive election result.Paroubek said Topolanek and ODS deputy group head Petr Tluchor are the main protagonists of these practices and that they both should leave politics.The CSSD board also plans to prepare a draft ethical code of conduct for politicians on the level of the government, parliament and parliamentary parties.
The Social Democrats are prepared to apply the code unilaterally, Paroubek said.He added that the code would embed the presumption of guilt principle, the fight against nepotism and ban all attacks on politicians' family members as well as the struggling for defectors from other parties.The CSSD also wants the whole TV Nova recording on the Morava and Tlusty case to be published and the case to be investigated by law enforcement bodies on suspicion of crimes being committed, Paroubek said.
(Ceske Noviny)
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